John Aldag

[Government Business No. 31—Proceedings on Bill C-50, December 4th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, I sit on the natural resources committee with my colleague. I would like to ask him for his reflections on the importance of this legislation, assuming we can get it through committee and back to the House, to workers not only in Quebec, but also across Canada, including in my riding of Cloverdale—Langley City.

We did a study for a number of months where we heard from workers, when they were not being interrupted and filibustered by Conservatives, and I think some really good testimony came in during that study. Therefore, I would appreciate my colleague's thoughtful reflections on the importance of this bill and why we need to get it done and turned into legislation.

[Government Business No. 31—Proceedings on Bill C-50, December 4th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, as I was saying, as a former chair of the natural resources committee, I know we have seen three iterations of Conservatives cycle through the committee to make sure that no work gets done. That included when the committee had the hearings on the sustainable jobs work. The point is that, the previous Conservative member asked a question about disrespect. I would like the minister to flip that to demonstrate that this is a very respectful piece of legislation for labour. We know that the Conservatives stand up for big oil executives.

Could the minister explain to the House and the residents of Cloverdale—Langley City why Bill C-50 is so important and so needed?

[Government Business No. 31—Proceedings on Bill C-50, December 4th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, as a member of the natural resources committee, I am one of the members who has been waiting since October 30 to hear from witnesses and to call the minister to speak to the importance of the legislation before us. I chaired the committee for two years and many witnesses spoke to the committee about the sustainable jobs study that went on. Now, the Conservatives, as my colleague from Timmins—James Bay mentioned, are filibustering so we cannot hear testimony from witnesses and members of the labour force. We heard a Conservative colleague—

[Guru Nanak Food Bank, November 24th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, on July 1, 2020, the Guru Nanak Food Bank was born, serving residents of Surrey and Delta in B.C. Under the banner “recognize all human race as one”, the Guru Nanak Food Bank provides essential food and assistance to those in need.

The food bank is assisted by 69 youth volunteers aged nine to 17, who have collectively contributed a staggering 11,569 hours of volunteer work during their summer break. Guru Nanak Food Bank serves 16,000 people monthly, accounting for 320,000 pounds of food. The day before I recently met with the board, they received and distributed over 55,000 pounds of bananas to the community in just one day.

Guru Nanak Food Bank takes pride in providing these services to our community. These are among the many reasons I strongly support Guru Nanak Food Bank in its application for a Food Banks BC membership. I am proud of the progress they have made over the last three years, and I look forward to continuing my support for this fantastic organization.

[Indigenous Affairs, November 2nd, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, as we continue on the path of reconciliation, there is more and more evidence showing that indigenous-led solutions lead to better, more sustainable outcomes and stronger, healthier communities. It is easy to see when it comes to mental wellness. For generations, indigenous peoples have known that wellness and health depended on holistic connections, as well as their relationships with each other and with culture. By contrast, our narrow, one-size-fits-all, western approach has left far too many indigenous people by the wayside.

What is the government doing to make sure indigenous-led models of wellness are reaching the people who need them?

[Business of Supply, November 2nd, 2023]

Madam Speaker, it is always a pleasure to hear my colleague speak in this House. It was a really good intervention and good speech related to all the fantastic work that Quebec is doing to address the very real situation of climate change that we are all facing.

Unfortunately, as we have heard, the motion brought forward by the Conservatives today is very divisive. Speaking of division, we have seen at our natural resources committee a huge example of the obstruction the Conservatives are willing to do to prevent us from moving forward with climate change legislation.

I would welcome my colleague's thoughts on how we can move beyond division and do some great work to address climate change. We have had nine hours of filibuster, which has prevented us from dealing with this very real issue. I would appreciate the member's thoughts on that. Perhaps he can also reflect on how this legislation is not helping the discussion and is actually a hindrance to addressing climate change in Canada.

[National Trust for Canada, October 27th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, I rise in the House today to offer congratulations to the National Trust for Canada on its 50th anniversary conference. Taking place in Ottawa right now at the Château Laurier, this year's conference theme is “Transforming Heritage”. The conference has brought together over 700 heritage professionals, advocates and industry leaders from across the country and is being held in partnership with the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals and the Indigenous Heritage Circle.

The National Trust for Canada is the leading national charity dedicated to the conservation and use of Canada's historic places. Since its inception in 1973, the organization has powered a movement dedicated to preserving and revitalizing heritage buildings, landscapes and communities for the benefit of people and the planet.

I want to give a special thanks to Natalie Bull and Chris Wiebe from the National Trust. Their dedication to heritage shows through their hard work. They mobilized support for Bill C-23, which is key legislation for the protection of Canada's national heritage. From conference attendees, I call on members of this House for the swift passage of Bill C-23.

Congratulations to the National Trust on its 50th anniversary.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, October 26th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, farmers and ranchers in western Canada have been rocked by natural disasters over the past few years, and this year was no different. From floods and hail to drought and fires, western Canadian producers have faced a number of challenges this growing season and need support. These men and women grow and produce our food. They are the forward-thinking and innovative leaders in our communities.

While the Conservatives continue to deny and ignore the realities of climate change, can our minister please update this House on how the government is supporting western Canadian farmers and ranchers through these challenging times?

[World Polio Day, October 24th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, today I stand to recognize World Polio Day and the efforts of Rotary International. Over 700 Rotary clubs across Canada, including my own club in Langley, carry the vision of a polio-free world and continue to work tirelessly toward this goal.

Since 2006, the federal government has contributed over $200 million to support polio eradication efforts. Unfortunately, the pandemic has caused millions of children to miss their polio vaccinations, resulting in outbreaks threatening this tremendous program. Sustained action is critical to protecting global health. If we stop now, we risk the paralysis of 200,000 children worldwide each year.

I ask members to please join me today in marking World Polio Day by thanking all who contribute to eradicating polio in our local communities and internationally. Our work is not yet complete. We must remain steadfast in our support to end this terrible disease once and for all.

[Canadian Heritage, October 20th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, national parks protect Canada's iconic terrestrial and aquatic environments, while provide opportunities for public understanding, education and enjoyment for these protected areas.

Having worked for Parks Canada for more than 30 years prior to politics, I can appreciate the importance of protecting and preserving the beautiful landscapes that represent the very best of Canada.

Can the parliamentary secretary share with this House the progress our government is making to protect and conserve these national wonders for future generations?